Funding distribution
Published on: 12th September 2014 | Updated on: 5th June 2024
Funding for the contractual framework is distributed through various fees and allowances along with a guaranteed element of retained buying margin. Individual pharmacies’ income may vary according to the mix of products dispensed and the number of additional fees earned, for example, for dispensing controlled drugs and expensive prescription items.
The following sections contain payment level / fee level information for the various elements of contractual framework funding.
Essential Services
This section includes details on current fee levels for dispensing.
Advanced Services
This section includes details on payments for NMS, AURs and other services that contractors can choose to provide.
Retained buying margin (Category M)
This section contains details on the national retained buying margin arrangements and Category M.
IT/EPS allowances
This section contains details on IT/EPS allowances.
Indicative Income Tables
This section contains tables showing how much an ‘average’ pharmacy might expect to earn through dispensing fees and retained buying margin, for a given volume of dispensing.
Summary of funding changes
This section shows fee level adjustments and Category M adjustments over time.
Other topical payment issues
- Brief guide to pharmacy contract framework and funding
- Pre-reg training grant
- Dispensing at a loss
- VAT
- Practice Payment / Establishment Payment top ups
- Branded generics
- Pharmacy finance scheme
- Breakdown of how fees and allowances are funded
- Temporary safeguarding payments
For more information on this topic please email comms.team@cpe.org.uk